| EVENT REPORT 07.15.09 11:13 AM |
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Concern Foundation Benefit Raises $1.3 Million, Draws 17 New Food Providers
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 | Concern Foundation's Block Party
Photo: Barry E. Levine |
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In a notoriously tough year for fund-raising, the Concern Foundation for cancer research managed to exceed its goals and expectations for its 35th annual Block Party benefit on July 11. The event on the New York Street backlot at Paramount Studios raised $1.3 million. "Our fund-raising goal this year was to break $1 million," said Concern president Derek Alpert, who oversaw the event. "It's remarkable. It just shows how, even in tough times, cancer and finding a cure really means a lot to people." (Last year's goal was more than $1.5 million, and Concern achieved it.)
The event honored senior vice president of wealth management for Smith Barney Susan Inwood; child psychiatrist Mary M. Moebius; and interior designer Donna Livingston. Los Angeles magazine was the evening's media partner, helping the organization to raise awareness and secure additional funds from readers and advertisers.
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RELATED TOPICS
Concern Foundation, Los Angeles Magazine |
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| NEWS 05.21.09 8:00 AM |
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Events and Pop-Ups Are a Boon to Troubled Retail Real Estate—and Vice Versa
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 | Reebok's La Brea pop-up
Photo: Vero Image |
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The recession has brought a flurry of “For Lease” signs to the windows of Los Angeles retail spaces, which have been vacated with particular urgency in high-rent districts like Melrose Place, Robertson Boulevard, and Sunset Boulevard. But the bad news for real estate could be buoyed by corporate event and pop-up hosts using those same spaces—and likewise some hosts are finding that a vacant retail space can be an efficient and attractive venue choice.
“[The high retail vacancy is] definitely encouraging me, with any event, to walk around an area I like and look at all the retail spaces as a first protocol,” said Harrison & Shriftman national creative director Ryan Jordan, who recently chose vacant retail and parking structures for the likes of Allergan’s Latisse launch, and a launch for Russian designer Kira Plastinina (whose line filed for bankruptcy just months after its U.S. debut). “They’re a lot more cost effective, and it definitely increases your bargaining power, since they're already vacant—in New York, Miami, L.A.—everywhere.”
The Beverly Center, which occasionally hosts its own promotional events, is actively shopping for corporate event and pop-up hosts. “I've been talking to New Beauty magazine about doing a pop-up store [out of which the magazine would offer relevant] seminars, maybe for a month or a couple of months. We've been talking to Los Angeles magazine about doing the same thing for the tastemakers issue. Also we’ve been working with [an animal rescue] organization to do animal adoptions [out of the space formerly occupied by a] pet store, since their lease expired, which would allow us to lease the space later,” said Steve Valentine, a publicist for the mall (which may be facing a significant new PR problem after the murder of a young rapper in daylight there on Monday).
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RELATED TOPICS
Pop-Ups, Y-3, Reebok, Kira Plastinina, Allergan, Latisse, New Beauty Magazine, Los Angeles Magazine, M.A.C. Cosmetics, Paper Magazine, Campari, Kitson, Johnnie Walker |
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| NEWS 02.05.09 5:30 PM |
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Despite a Few No-Shows, Robust Slate of Grammy Events to Blanket L.A.
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 | Will.i.am kicking off the "Worlds on Fire" exhibition
Photo: Kevin Parry |
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Despite some notable high-profile absences, there are still plenty of contenders for guests' time on the Grammy week calendar this year—including some newcomers to the scene.
On Monday, Will.i.am and Gen Art kicked off the week with the opening night of the "Worlds on Fire" artist exhibition downtown. Portraits honored 2009 nominees such as Al Green, Beck, Beyoncé, Bruce Springsteen, Jay-Z, Kanye West, Lil’ Wayne, Madonna, M.I.A, Nas, Nine Inch Nails, Paul McCartney, and Radiohead. Jacob’s Creek supplied beverages, and guests browsed a silent auction. Proceeds benefited the Black Eyed Peas’ Peapod Foundation and other local charities for L.A. youth. The exhibit runs through Sunday at the Pacific Electric Lofts.
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RELATED TOPICS
Grammys, Recording Academy, Award Season, Gift Suites, Gen Art, In Touch Weekly, Asics, Jacob's Creek, Rhino, Peapod Foundation, Nu-Soul Magazine, Lite Brite, Universal Motown Republic Group, Island Def Jam, Los Angeles Magazine, L.A. Works, MTV Games, Rock Band |
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| ASK BIZBASH 09.10.08 11:30 AM |
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Who Does Fantastic Flowers on the Cheap?
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 | Centerpieces at a Concern Foundation fund-raiser
Photo: Courtesy of the Concern Foundation |
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As prices climb and event budgets continue to shrink, flowers are often one of the first things to be scaled back, or cut completely. Here are designers who planners maintain get more bloom for the buck.
Los Angeles magazine’s marketing services director, Devon McKee, has hired Tic-Tock Couture Florals to handle events including the publication’s “Best of L.A.” winners party at the Luxe Hotel Sunset Boulevard and the launch party for sister publication Beverly Hills magazine at Two Rodeo. “On their Web site, [the company] categorizes arrangements by price and includes photos, which is extremely helpful because it is easy to know what you are working with and that you are staying within your budget,” says McKee, who opted for to choose arrangements from the $100 category on the site. “For the Beverly Hills launch party, Tic-Tock perfectly captured the essence of the magazine with simple and chic orchid arrangements,” McKee says. “They also included floating white orchids in an oversized spherical vase, which added an elegant touch.”
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RELATED TOPICS
Los Angeles Magazine, Beverly Hills Magazine, Vanity Fair, AIDS Project Los Angeles, Concern Foundation |
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| EVENT REPORT 07.15.08 1:44 PM |
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Concern Foundation's '60s-Theme Block Party Raises $1.5 Million
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 | Go-go dancers performed routines to hits from the 1960's.
Photo: Barry E. Levine |
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Keeping with the same block-party formula that has proven fruitful in past years, Concern Foundation’s 34th annual fund-raiser at Paramount Pictures employed a new theme for this year's event on July 12, a nod to the 1960s. “This year we picked the '60s because it’s the 40th anniversary of Concern, which started in 1968," said Derek Alpert, president of the foundation. The event featured images from the history of the organization and a beauty shop for guests to get beehive hair styles.
Stilt-walkers in psychedelic costumes welcomed guests to the Paramount back lot, where go-go dancers took to one of four entertainment stages. A bright lighting scheme of green, yellow, and pink lit up the decor while hits from the decade played throughout the evening. Tarot card readers and psychics held court next to the beehive hairstyling station.
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RELATED TOPICS
Concern Foundation, Los Angeles Magazine |
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| TOP 100 EVENTS 02.29.08 11:15 PM |
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Southern California's Top Benefits 2008
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 | The Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County's Dinosaur Ball
Photo: Lee Salem Photography |
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1. Carousel of Hope
Usually called the Carousel Ball, this red-letter event on L.A.’s social calendar is such a production that it’s held only once every two years. The host is Barbara Davis, half of a Hollywood power couple with her late billionaire husband, former 20th Century Fox owner Marvin Davis. Their A-list friends will turn out in droves at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in October for this fund-raiser for children’s diabetes.
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RELATED TOPICS
Southern California's Top 100 Events, Nancy Davis Foundation for MS, Los Angeles Opera, Los Angeles Philharmonic, Saks Fifth Avenue, Mercedes-Benz, Unicef, U.C.L.A. Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center, HollyRod Foundation, Chrysalis, Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County, Friends of the USC Libraries, Starlight Starbright Children's Foundation, Concern Foundation, Los Angeles Magazine, California Science Center, Fulfillment Fund, Geffen Playhouse, Tiger Woods Foundation |
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| MY FAVORITE VENDORS 09.12.07 11:01 AM |
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L.A. Mag Likes Warner Brothers and Kitchen Academy
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 | | Photo: Courtesy of June Miller Richards |
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June Miller Richards, Los Angeles magazine’s vice president of marketing, oversees roughly 100 events a year, including issue-launch parties, photography exhibits, and intimate dinners for luxury clients.
Venues: “Studio back lots like Warner Brothers are great because they have the talent, staff, and infrastructure to virtually create whatever you want; it really is the magic of Hollywood. We also had a great event benefiting the L.A. Mission at the Kitchen Academy in Hollywood, where our guests got to literally experience the inner workings of an actual professional cooking school. The chefs loved the fact that the equipment they got to work with was state-of-the-art—not portable or makeshift kitchens, which can often be risky endeavors at food events.” —Alesandra Dubin
RELATED TOPICS
Los Angeles Magazine |
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| EVENT REPORT 07.18.07 3:21 PM |
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Concern Foundation Milks Block-Party Formula
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 | The Concern Foundation hosted 3,000 guests at the Paramount Studios back lot for its 33rd annual block party.
Photo: Barry E. Levine |
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When a nonprofit has the luxury of turning donated services away, as the Concern Foundation did for its 33rd annual block party on July 14, it’s usually an indication that something is going right. “We had people calling the day after [last year’s] event asking how they could get involved, and we had people calling last week wanting to participate,” said Derek Alpert, the foundation’s president. “We had to tell them there was no more space.”
With the foundation easily garnering the culinary services of more than 50 top Los Angeles restaurants and caterers, it appears the foundation has locked down a winning formula over its event's long history—and rather than tamper with it, Alpert and his team followed the pattern of past events.
The foundation hosted the event at the Paramount back lot for the seventh consecutive year, offering similar entertainment to last year’s event, including the return of four live entertainment stages (this year featuring the Tom Nolan Band, Chinatown Acrobats troupe, Fresh Green Jazz Band, and DJ Party Layne), a rock-climbing wall, and casino tables. Los Angeles magazine was also back as a partner for the third year in a row, celebrating its 2007 "Best of L.A." issue with an on-site marketplace showcasing the magazine's editorial picks in such categories as spa services and golfing.
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RELATED TOPICS
Concern Foundation, Los Angeles Magazine |
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